Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): U.S. Air Force Role in Future Air Warfare - Manned or Unmanned? (UAVs, Remotely Piloted Aircraft‪)‬

In today’s volatile and complex environment, the military arm of national power has been called upon to fight campaigns in both Iraq and Afghanistan. For over eight years the USAF has been continuously deployed to both theaters, flying tens of thousands of sorties each year—mostly manned missions, but some unmanned. The unmanned flights are primarily for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, but increasingly the unmanned platforms are used for attack missions. This increased reliance on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to fill more and more traditional roles of USAF air power has several implications. UAS eliminate the human aspect of being in the air. They do not provide direct situational awareness; they don’t put “eyes-on” the target and the friendly forces. While UASs serve an important role, taking humans out of the cockpit will lead to strategic mistakes and give the enemy yet another opportunity to succeed. Fielding the right numbers of manned and unmanned aircraft will enable the USAF to effectively execute its mission in future conflicts. The uncertainty of the future environment and our continuing uses of USAF air power will require ingenuity, foresight, and appropriate technological development. As the enemy continues to adapt, so must we.

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